I don't think Harry gave Roger enough information for him to see Joan's contribution. First, I don't think Roger has a clear idea of what Harry's doing. And secondly, at first it was pitched as, well, just have some of the secretaries read some stuff through. So I think Roger still saw it in that light. I don't think Joan's contributions were clear to him.

I don't think it occured to Harry to make it clear what she was doing. He never saw Joan as anything more than a temporary substitute for the man who would REALLY be doing that job.

I don't know, Jessica. Harry seemed pretty surprised & pleased by Joan's contributions in the meeting with the clients. I don't think it ever struck him, though, that she would even be interested in the job.

I don't think it ever struck him, though, that she would even be interested in the job.

What do you see as the difference between this and what I said?

(Genuine question, not being snotty.)

Perhaps I'm misreading your comment. I thought you were saying that Harry was discounting Joan's contribution because he thought she was only grudgingly performing the work and he intended to give the job to a man. I think Harry would have been pleasantly surprised to hear that Joan was interested in the job.

I thought you were saying that Harry was discounting Joan's contribution because he thought she was only grudgingly performing the work and he intended to give the job to a man. I think Harry would have been pleasantly surprised to hear that Joan was interested in the job.

I guess I don't see the two as mutually exclusive. Regardless of how happy he was with her work, he never saw it as Joan doing that job. He saw it as Joan helping him out, and as such, assumed that it was a burden to her and that he should hire a man and let her get back to her "real" work.

Oh, then we're saying the same thing. Apologies! Bad allergies today and brain working poorly.

I should have stuck with the short version, "Harry is an oblivious asshat."

I hear you on the allergies, though - I think my nose may have to come off. I can live without a sense of smell.

I think Harry may be one of the least-noxious characters on the show, but yes: oblivious.

I think my nose may have to come off

I'm wondering if one can have a sinusectomy and live. I mean, it can't be worse than living with them, right?

Thing is, I think it would almost have been beyond the pale for Harry to have been reasonable and seen the light where Joan was concerned. From what I can tell, Kenny's the most enlightened one of the younger guys, in terms of seeing a woman's worth & potential as a workmate. After all, he's been the one most willing to directly work with/champion Peggy as a copywriter. (While still retaining the asshattiness that the men on the show regularly exhibit.)

Now, what would be interesting, is if Paul somehow catches wind of Joan's contribution and what his reaction would be. After all, he's the one who fancies himself the enlightened man of the office.

I should have stuck with the short version, "Harry is an oblivious asshat."

I think that asshat is way too strong. He was very clearly grateful to Joan for helping, thanked her several times. He just never realized that she liked what she was doing, he just thought that she was filling in until he found someone.